{"id":38808,"date":"2019-10-31T22:26:06","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T19:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/blog\/pereezd-podgotovka-vybor-osvoenie-territorii\/"},"modified":"2019-10-31T22:26:06","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T19:26:06","slug":"pereezd-podgotovka-vybor-osvoenie-territorii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/en\/blog\/news\/pereezd-podgotovka-vybor-osvoenie-territorii","title":{"rendered":"Moving: preparation, selection, mastering the territory","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

It may seem that IT engineers have it easy. They earn good money and can freely move between employers and countries. But it's not that simple. The 'typical IT specialist' spends their time glued to a computer since school, then continues in university, graduate school, and beyond... After that, it's work, work, work, years of production, and only then can they think about relocating. And then it's back to work again.<\/p>\n

Of course, from the outside, it may seem like luck. But aside from the time and effort spent on education, skill development, and climbing the career ladder, the relocation itself is a guarantee of gray hair and a crisis of nerve cells.<\/p>\n

\"Moving:
\n
\nMoving to another city, country, continent, or planet is not that simple. There's a different mentality, culture, rules, laws, prices, healthcare, and you still need to find a place to move to, get an offer, housing, and sort out a visa... thousands of details. How to avoid getting a nervous tick and instead maximize benefits and enjoyment from the process will be discussed by Denis Neklyudov <\/strong>(nekdenis<\/a><\/noindex>).<\/p>\n

What are the reasons people leave, what awaits them there, and how do you choose where to move? How to navigate the job market, find work, prepare for interviews, and select the best offer. Using Denis's experiences moving to Phuket, Singapore, San Francisco, and the experiences of many other expats, we will prepare for new adventures. Denis's story is a roadmap or checklist that will be useful for anyone considering relocation.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer. 'The Earth is round' and it rotates. Someday we will return to where we started. Denis's move does not encourage you to permanently leave your homeland. Don't view the topic of relocation negatively; think of it as a way to expand your horizons. This article is based solely on the experiences of ordinary developers, without the gloss of a luxurious life of crypto-millionaires or the harsh realities faced by unskilled migrants.<\/em>
\n<\/a><\/noindex>
\n\"Moving:
\n
\nDenis Neklyudov \u2014 Google Developer Expert in Android, Pay, and IoT. He has worked in several startups in Russia, Asia, and Europe, and is currently at Lyft in California. No article can convey the energy that Denis exuded when sharing his experiences, valuable advice, and anecdotes about acquaintances at AppsConf<\/a><\/noindex> \u2014 check out the video of the talk<\/a><\/noindex>. <\/p>\n

Employment<\/h2>\n

\nAs you may have already guessed, we will talk about SWE \u2014 Software Engineer<\/strong>As IT engineers, we have it easier when it comes to living and moving. This is because we invest a lot of time and effort since school. Only after diligent work does the chance for relocation appear.<\/p>\n

\"Moving:
\nA life illustration <\/em>from here<\/em><\/a><\/noindex> (there are still many ironic images).<\/em><\/p>\n

It's not that simple. The first step on this path is employment and job searching.<\/p>\n

Job market and job searching<\/h3>\n

\nJob searching starts with friends, acquaintances, and referrals.<\/p>\n

Everyone you know is your main resource for finding interesting offers, in addition to your core programming skills.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you can't find referrals and friends, contact recruiters and employees<\/strong>. Before this, translate your LinkedIn profile to the country<\/strong>where you plan to move. Without this, you won't even be considered.<\/p>\n

An interesting option that you don't think about right away is local forums<\/strong>. These are groups on Facebook and other communities where people receive referral bonuses. They know that even if they bring in someone unfamiliar, if accepted, they will get a bonus. So they post job offers under their name and say: \"Sure, I will refer you with pleasure,\" and they will also do a prescreen by looking at your CV.<\/p>\n

But the most successful option is meetups and conferences<\/strong>. Look for people from the companies you are interested in and ask for a referral. The first option is a meetup in your country, where we look for contacts for relocation. The second option is a meetup in the places you want to move to. Want to go to Berlin? Find a meetup there and move.<\/p>\n

A few recommendations about CVs.<\/b><\/p>\n

Check your CV with a native speaker of the country you want to move to.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Most likely, it won't even have grammatical errors, but phrase and sentence structures that show that this language is not native. It must be a native speaker, not a teacher from Skyeng.<\/p>\n

Practice English with native speakers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

By the way, on Skyeng and italki, you can practice with native speakers. After spending 10 hours and 10,000 rubles on communication with a native speaker, your confidence will increase. You\u2019ll feel calm and won\u2019t stumble during a recruiter call.<\/p>\n

Where to find examples of good CVs? The first way is LinkedIn profiles of well-known developers.<\/strong>Most likely, they don't have a profile picture, the last job was at Google 15 years ago, and that's all. Such guys don't stress too much. But those who are early in their careers, who haven't landed their dream job yet, write great CVs. Take a look at theirs.<\/p>\n

The second way is through resumes of acquaintances who successfully landed a job. <\/strong>If you know such people, ask them to help you craft your resume. Writing a compelling resume deserves a separate article, so we won't dwell on this.<\/p>\n

Interview<\/h3>\n

The larger the company, the more general questions there will be.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In a small startup, you'll be asked about Android or iOS. At FAANG companies (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google), they don't need a developer specifically for Android or iOS. They need a Software Engineer<\/strong> \u2014 a versatile person who can be sent to Android, iOS, or even allow you to grow in a completely different career path.<\/p>\n

Corporations prefer to know where to assign you, but first, they need to assess your basic skills, suitability, and engineering mindset. Therefore, there will be a lot of \"whiteboarding<\/strong>\" \u2014 where you solve problems at the board and don't use a computer.<\/p>\n

How to prepare? Solve problems and don't fear Google or Facebook.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The book \"<\/strong>Cracking the Coding Interview<\/strong><\/a><\/noindex>\" is essential reading. It lists all the main data structures and categories of problems that are asked in \"whiteboarding\" interviews. If you've never prepared for such interviews \u2014 this is a great book. From there, you can delve deeper into foundational books about algorithms.<\/strong>Websites Hackerrank.com, Leetcode.com.<\/p>\n

My favorite is Leetcode.com, because it allows you to tackle problems that have leaked from Google and Amazon interviews. With a paid account, you can even select problems specifically from Google, for instance.<\/strong> The more problems you solve, the higher your chances of success.<\/p>\n

This is evident in the graph showing the relationship between success and the number of problems solved on HackerRank.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Whether 75% of success is linked to solving 70-80 problems, or if it's about lengthy preparation \u2014 I don't know. But there is a connection \u2014 the more problems you solve, the more confidence you gain.<\/p>\n

\"Moving: <\/p>\n

Keep a template of your application handy.<\/p>\n

Keep a job application template handy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you're interviewing with small companies, time and again you will be asked the same thing: 'Write an application!'. When you already have an application template, just update it before you start preparing again abroad. Sketch out an architecture you like, implement a simple design, but make sure it doesn't look like 'I already have a bag of solutions.' Reuse the template and don\u2019t write from scratch every time.<\/p>\n

Don't mess up in front of the manager.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That's understandable, but some still manage to do it. The main thing is, when you come to SpaceX and the very person conducts the interview, remember that he\u2019s asking not so much about development as about general soft skills.<\/p>\n

\"Moving:
\n
\nIn all large companies, there\u2019s a technical developer interview, and there\u2019s a manager interview. In the latter, they check how you will fit into the team culturally. During the interview, put yourself in the manager's position and think before responding \u2014 would you want to hear what you're saying from a candidate? This will help.<\/p>\n

The simplest advice for successfully passing an interview is \u2014 don't act like a fool if you're not one.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Confidently follow this rule, and you will succeed. I guarantee it. Maybe not on the first try, but surely on the second. If you try to act strangely, the guarantee will fall apart.<\/p>\n

Offer<\/h3>\n

\nLet\u2019s assume everything went well: you passed the interview, the feedback is positive, you received a call from the recruiter saying, 'Let's negotiate!'.<\/p>\n

For the company, even after all the interviews, you are a black box, especially when moving to another country. They don't want to overpay.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Startup No. 37 and any foreign company won't call Yandex, Avito, or Kaspersky to learn something about you. In Silicon Valley, they call each other and find out, but not in Russia. You are a cat in a bag for them, and they try not to overestimate you.<\/p>\n

Therefore, they will negotiate downwards. But you want to ensure that everything for you and your family is covered in the highest manner: from a private jet to packing your cat in such a way that he doesn't notice, and when he runs on American soil, he immediately meows in English.<\/p>\n

In Russia, it\u2019s not customary to pay sign-up bonuses, so many engineers are unaware of them. But as an engineer, you must demand them.<\/p>\n

People are simply paid for accepting offers, can you imagine?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When you\u2019re told that they will help you with the move, it\u2019s one thing. But you should say:
\n \u2014 Yes, you\u2019re helping me with the move because I\u2019m not local. But I\u2019m accepting your company\u2019s offer, not the neighbor\u2019s, and let\u2019s see if you\u2019ll pay me for this!<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s really true! At one time on Facebook, this was even called the \"Tesla bonus.\" It amounted to about $75,000, half of which was taken by taxes, but it was still enough for a Model 3, instead of a Model S.
\n\"Moving:
\nDid I get a Model S? No, I didn\u2019t receive the bonus :( Don\u2019t make my mistakes.
\nNegotiate for every last RSU.
\n\"Moving:
\nRobert Kiyosaki knows how to work with money.<\/em><\/p>\n

RSU \u2014 restricted stock units or shares. <\/strong>It\u2019s your right to own stocks for free in the future. You\u2019re told that as soon as they have stocks, you can receive and sell them for free. You will also have to pay taxes on this.<\/p>\n

Options<\/strong> \u2014 are a more favorable condition, but they are only given in the early stages. This is the right to buy company shares at a fixed price when they become available.<\/p>\n

This culture isn\u2019t developed in Russia. Recently, Russian law introduced RSUs and options. Therefore, many people are still unqualified in this area and think that only unreal CTO positions get options. No, demand right away:
\n \u2014 Give me RSUs or an option right away if you\u2019re a small startup. If you\u2019re a public company, how many shares will I receive per year, and how often does vesting occur?<\/em><\/p>\n

But remember that you will have to pay taxes on your salary and bonuses.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ideally, you should be showered with planes, stocks, and cookies. But before agreeing to this fairy-tale job, check out Glassdoor<\/a><\/noindex> and other review sites. You can find reviews like: \"The worst culture and management ever! I worked full-time at this company.\"<\/p>\n

\"Moving:<\/p>\n

\"A great place to learn about bad management,\" writes an anonymous employee from Singapore\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Moving: <\/p>\n

Before the interview at your dream company, keep a couple of trump cards from smaller companies up your sleeve. If you already have an offer from another company in the same region, you're in luck. You can negotiate a better position for yourself. I read about a developer who negotiated with Airbnb and Google; he started at $180,000 a year and ended up at $300,000.<\/p>\n

When you have multiple offers, don't rush to agree. They'll take you anyway, even if you quote a high price \u2014 of course, they will lower it later. But stand your ground, ask for sign-up bonuses and stocks.<\/p>\n

I feel like after this article, the real estate market in San Francisco will heat up and burst :)<\/p>\n

Abroad<\/h2>\n

\nYou're planning to leave. Look at how many migrants have dispersed everywhere. You are not alone.<\/p>\n

\"Moving:
\nMap<\/em><\/a><\/noindex> Telegram channels about immigration for May 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n

Before you go, set a clear goal for your move<\/strong>.<\/p>\n